View source for Oscar-class submarine

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
|+Oscar class
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:Oscar class submarine 2.JPG|300px|Project 949 class submarine]]
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=
|Builders=SEVMASH, Severodvinsk
|Operators={{navy|Soviet Union}}<br>{{navy|Russia}}
|Class before={{sclass2-|Papa|submarine}}
|Class after=[[Yasen-class submarine|Severodvinsk-class]] submarine
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=1975-1996
|In service range=1981-present
|In commission range=1980-present
|Total ships building=2<ref name="modenize">
 {{cite web
 |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=14659
 |title=Russia to Complete and Modernize Antei-class Subs
 |publisher=rusnavy.com
 |date=23 March 2012
 |accessdate=2012-10-27
 }}</ref>
|Total ships planned=20 (2 949, 18 949A)<ref name="Podvodnye Lodki 2002">Podvodnye Lodki, Yu.V. Apalkov, Sankt Peterburg, 2002, ISBN 5-8172-0069-4</ref>
|Total ships completed=13 (2 949, 11 949A)
|Total ships cancelled=7 (3 incomplete, 4 never laid down)
|Total ships active=5<ref name="warfare">
 {{cite web
 |author=
 |url=http://warfare.be/?lang=&linkid=1763&catid=305
 |title=949 /A Oscar I/II class
 |publisher=Russian Warfare
 |accessdate=2012-01-01
 }}</ref>
|Total ships laid up=2<ref name="warfare" />
|Total ships lost=1 ''Kursk'' 12 August 2000
|Total ships retired=4 
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=
|Ship type=
|Ship displacement=12,500/14,700 tons surfaced<br />16,500/19,400 tons submerged<ref name="Podvodnye Lodki 2002" />
|Ship length={{convert|155|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="Podvodnye Lodki 2002" />
|Ship beam={{convert|18.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught={{convert|9|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks=
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship power=2 × pressurized water cooled reactors
|Ship propulsion=2 × steam turbines delivering {{convert|73070|kW|shp|abbr=on}} to two shafts
|Ship speed={{convert|15|kn|km/h}} surfaced<br />{{convert|32|kn|km/h}} submerged<ref name="Podvodnye Lodki 2002" />
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=120 days<ref name="Podvodnye Lodki 2002" />
|Ship test depth=
|Ship complement=94/107<ref name="Podvodnye Lodki 2002" />
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=4 × {{Convert|533|mm|in|abbr=on}} and 2 × {{Convert|650|mm|in|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes in bow<br />28 × 533 mm and 650 mm weapons, including Tsakra ([[SS-N-15]] Starfish) anti-submarine missiles with 15&nbsp;kt nuclear warheads and Vodopad/Veder ([[SS-N-16]] Stallion) and anti-submarine missiles with 200&nbsp;kt nuclear warhead or Type 40 anti-submarine torpedo or 32 ground mines<br />24 × [[P-700 Granit]] (SS-N-19 Shipwreck) cruise missiles with {{Convert|750|kg|lb}} HE or 500&nbsp;kt nuclear warheads
}}
|}

'''Project 949 (Granit)''' and '''Project 949A (Antey)''' are [[Soviet Navy]]/[[Russian Navy]] [[cruise missile]] [[submarine]]s ([[NATO reporting name]]s: '''Oscar-I''' and '''Oscar-II''' respectively).

Project 949 submarines were the largest cruise missile submarines in service, until the {{sclass-|Ohio|submarine|0}} [[SSGN]] [[cruise missile submarine]] converted from SSBN and returned to service on October 15, 2007.  They are the fourth largest class of submarines in terms of displacement and length. Only the {{sclass2-|Typhoon|submarine|0}} Soviet/Russian submarines, the American ''Ohio''-class ballistic missile submarines and the Russian {{sclass2-|Borei|submarine|2}}s are larger.

== History ==
The first submarine of Project 949 was laid down in the mid-1970s and was commissioned in 1980. In 1982 an updated and larger version (Project 949A) replaced the earlier version. In total thirteen submarines were constructed. The Oscar class was designed to attack NATO carrier battle groups  using long-range SS-N-19 "Shipwreck" anti-ship missiles and targeting data provided by the EORSAT satellite system.<ref>http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/oscar-submarine/</ref><ref>http://faculty.fordham.edu/siddiqi/writings/p14_siddiqi_jbis_rorsat_1999.pdf</ref> In the financial problems that followed the fall of the Soviet Union the Oscar class was prioritized by the Russian navy and when many older submarine classes were retired the Oscar class remained active in both the Northern and Pacific fleets. In 2011, five submarines are currently active with several more in reserve or waiting for repairs.

==Project 949 Granit==
[[File:Oscar I class SSGN.svg|thumb|left|Project 949]]
Two Project 949 Granit submarines were built at [[Severodvinsk]] and assigned to the [[Soviet Northern Fleet]]. They were [[Russian submarine K-525 Arkhangelsk|K-525]] laid down in 1975 and [[Russian submarine K-206 Murmansk|K-206]] laid down in 1979. Both were decommissioned in 1996<ref name="mtoday">{{cite news |url=http://www.military-today.com/navy/oscar_1_class.htm |title=Oscar 1 class |work=Military Today |accessdate=2011-12-30}}</ref> and scrapped in 2004.<ref name="bellona">{{cite news |url=http://www.bellona.org/english_import_area/international/russia/navy/northern_fleet/decommissioning/33199 |title=Zvezdochka dismantling two nuclear subs |publisher=[[Bellona Foundation]] |date=2 April 2004 |accessdate=2011-12-30}}</ref>

==Project 949A Antey==
[[File:Oscar II class SSGN.svg|thumb|left|Project 949A]]
Eleven Project 949A Antey submarines were completed at [[Severodvinsk]], of which five were assigned to the Soviet Northern Fleet.

At one stage it had been planned to develop a new fourth-generation follow-on to the Project 949A, but this plan was later scrapped.
<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.russiafile.com/oscar.htm
|title=Oscar Class Submarines<!-- Bot generated title -->
|accessdate=
}}{{dead link |date=October 2012}}</ref>

The external differences between the two classes were that the 949A class is about {{convert|10|m}} longer than its predecessor (~{{convert|154|m}} rather than {{convert|143|m|abbr=on}}), providing space for improved electronics and possibly quieter propulsion. Some sources speculate that the acoustic performance of the Oscar II class is superior to early {{sclass-|Akula|submarine}} but inferior to the Akula II as well as subsequent (4. generation) designs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fas.org/blogs/security/2009/11/subnoise/ |title=China’s Noisy Nuclear Submarines » FAS Strategic Security Blog |publisher=Fas.org |date= |accessdate=2013-03-24}}</ref>  It also has a larger fin, and a seven-bladed propeller instead of a four-bladed one.<ref name="fas">{{cite web |url =http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/theater/949.htm |publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |title=Project 949 Granit / Oscar I ; Project 949A Antey / Oscar II |accessdate=2011-12-30}}</ref>

Like all post-World War II Soviet designs, they are of [[Submarine hull|double hull]] construction.<ref name="warfare" /> Similarly, like other Soviet submarine designs, Project 949 not only has a bridge open to the elements on top of the [[Sail (submarine)|sail]] but, for use in inclement weather, there is an enclosed bridge forward and slightly below this station in the fin/sail.

A distinguishing mark is a slight bulge at the top of the fin. A large door on either side of the fin reaches this bulge. These are wider at the top than on the bottom, and are hinged on the bottom. The [[Federation of American Scientists]]<ref name="fas" /> reports that this submarine carries an emergency crew escape capsule; it is possible that these doors cover it. The VSK escape capsule can accommodate 110 people.<ref>
{{cite journal
|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2000/08/27/a-mystery-in-the-deep.html
|title=A Mystery In The Deep
|date=27 August 2000
|first=John
|last=Barry
|first2=Jeffrey
|last2=Bartholet
|first3=Christian
|last3=Caryl
|magazine=[[Newsweek]]
|publisher=[[The Daily Beast]]
|accessdate=2012-10-27
}}</ref>

The Oscar Class is commonly referred to as Mongo by crews of US patrol aircraft in reference to their massive size. {{citation needed |date=November 2010}}

In December 2012, construction began on a special purpose research and rescue submarine, designated project 09852, and allegedly based on project 949A (Oscar II class) submarines.<ref name="world-nuclear-news1">{{cite web|url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Russia_builds_deep_sea_research_submarine-2112126.html |title=Russia builds deep-sea research submarine |publisher=World-nuclear-news.org |date=2012-12-21 |accessdate=2013-02-06}}</ref> The submarine is designed to carry smaller submarines.<ref name="world-nuclear-news1"/> Some sources speculated that the boat being built/modified is actually the incomplete "Belgorod".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://barentsobserver.com/en/security/2012/12/russia-builds-nuclear-submarine-deep-water-research-21-12 |title=Russia builds nuclear submarine for deep-water research |author= |date= |work=Barents Observer |accessdate=29 April 2013}}</ref> However, another source gave a different account stating that the boat is similar to AS-31 Losharik, a far smaller special purpose submarine.<ref>{{cite web|author=20.12.2012 |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=16670 |title=Second Research Sub Keel-Laid at Sevmash |publisher=Rusnavy.com |date=2012-12-20 |accessdate=2013-02-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/210.htm |title=Project 210 Losharik |publisher=Globalsecurity.org |date= |accessdate=2013-02-06}}</ref>

==Ships in the class==

{| class="wikitable" 
|+''[[Northern Fleet]] Oscar class submarines''<ref name="Podvodnye Lodki 2002" />
!#
!Name
!Project
!Laid down
!Launched
!Commissioned
!Status
|-
|K-525
|[[Russian submarine K-525|''Arkhangelsk'']] (''ex Minskiy Komsomolets'')
|949
|25 July 1975
|3 May 1980
|30 December 1980
|Decommissioned 1996,<ref name="mtoday" /> scrapped in 2004<ref name="bellona" />
|- 
|K-206
|[[Russian submarine K-206|''Murmansk'']]  <ref>{{cite web |url=http://warfare.be/?lang=&linkid=1720&catid=243&type=ssgn&order=fleet&ina=true |title=State of the Russian Navy |publisher=Russian Warfare |accessdate=2011-12-30}}</ref>
|949
|22 April 1979
|10 December 1982
|30 November 1983
|Decommissioned 1996,<ref name="mtoday" /> scrapped in 2004<ref name="bellona" />
|-
|K-148
|[[Russian submarine K-148|''Krasnodar'']]
|949A
|22 July 1982
|3 March 1985
|30 September 1986
|Retired, scrapping began in late 2012.<ref>
 {{cite web
 |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=16575
 |title=Nerpa Shipyard Starts Dismantling of Nuc Sub Krasnodar
 |publisher=rusnavy.com
 |date=28 November 2012
 |accessdate=2012-11-30
 }}</ref>
|-
|K-119
|[[Russian submarine K-119|''Voronezh'']]
|949A
|25 February 1986
|16 December 1988
|29 December 1989
|Active, after overhaul finished in November 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.i-mash.ru/news/nov_predpr/17776-cs-zvezdochka-zavershil-remont-atomnogo.html |script-title=ru:ЦС "Звездочка" завершил ремонт атомного подводного ракетного крейсера К-119 "Воронеж" |trans_title=CA "Star" completed the renovation of nuclear submarine K-119 "Voronezh" |language=Russian |work=flot.com |publisher=I-mash.ru |date= |accessdate=2012-01-01}}</ref>
|-
|K-410
|[[Russian submarine K-410|''Smolensk'']]
|949A
|9 December 1986
|20 January 1990
|22 December 1990
|Active, after overhaul finished in December 2013<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=13598 |title=Repair of SSN Voronezh Completed |publisher=rusnavy.com |date=14 November 2011 |accessdate=2012-01-01}}</ref><ref>
 {{cite web
 |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=13956
 |title=Repair Works Started on SSN Smolensk
 |publisher=rusnavy.com
 |date=23 December 2011
 |accessdate=2012-10-27
 }}</ref>
|-
|K-266
|[[Russian submarine K-266|''Orel'']]
|949A
|19 January 1989
|22 May 1992
|30 December 1992
|Active, to be overhauled in 2013<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=16327 |title=SSBN Orel to Pass Upgrade in 2013 |publisher=rusnavy.com |date=31 October 2012 |accessdate=2012-11-01}}</ref>
|-
|K-141
|[[Russian submarine K-141 Kursk|''Kursk'']]
|949A
|22 March 1992
|16 May 1994
|30 December 1994
|[[Kursk submarine disaster|Lost 12 August 2000]]
|}

{| class="wikitable" 
|+''[[Pacific Fleet (Russia)|Pacific Fleet]] Oscar class submarines''<ref name="Podvodnye Lodki 2002"/>
!#
!Name
!Project
!Laid down
!Launched
!Commissioned
!Status
|-
|K-173
|[[Russian submarine K-173 Krasnoyarsk|''Krasnoyarsk'']]
|949A
|August 4, 1983
|March 27, 1986
|December 31, 1986
|Inactive,to be scrapped<ref>
 {{cite web
 |url=http://www.deepstorm.ru/DeepStorm.files/45-92/nsrs/949A/list.htm
 |title=Title unknown
 |trans_title=Project 949A "Antey" (NATO - "Oscar-II")
 |publisher=deepstorm.ru
 |language=Russian
 |accessdate=2012-10-27
 }}</ref>
|-
|K-132
|[[Russian submarine K-132|''Irkutsk'']]
|949A
|May 8, 1985
|December 27, 1987
|December 30, 1988
|overhaul from 2008<ref>
 {{cite web
 |url=http://www.deepstorm.ru/DeepStorm.files/45-92/nsrs/949A/K-132/K-132.htm
 |title=Title unknown
 |trans_title=K-132 "Irkutsk" Project 949A
 |publisher=deepstorm.ru
 |language=Russian
 |accessdate=2012-10-27
 }}</ref>
|-
|K-442
|[[Russian submarine K-173|''Chelyabinsk'']]
|949A
|May 21, 1987
|June 18, 1990
|December 28, 1990
|waiting overhaul/upgrade<ref> to be modernised at 'Zvezda' shipyard http://flot.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=170535
 {{cite web
 |url=http://www.deepstorm.ru/DeepStorm.files/45-92/nsrs/949A/K-442/K-442.htm
 |title=Title unknown
 |trans_title=K-442 "Chelyabinsk" Project 949A
 |publisher=deepstorm.ru
 |language=Russian
 |accessdate=2012-10-27
 }}</ref>
|-
|K-456
|[[Russian submarine K-456|''Tver'']]
|949A
|February 9, 1988
|June 28, 1991
|August 18, 1992
|Active
|-
|K-186
|[[Russian submarine K-186|''Omsk'']]
|949A
|July 13, 1989
|May 10, 1993
|July 20, 1996
|Overhaul 2007-2008 <ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=10212 |title=Defense shipyard Zvezda claims RUR 65 mln for repairs of SSGN Omsk |publisher=rusnavy.com |date=7 September 2010 |accessdate=2012-01-01}}</ref><br />Active<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=11984 |title=Court obliged Pacific Fleet to pay for repair of SSN Omsk |publisher=rusnavy.com |date=8 April 2011 |accessdate=2012-01-01}}</ref>
|-
|K-150
|[[Russian submarine K-150|''Tomsk'']]
|949A
|August 27, 1991
|July 20, 1996
|December 30, 1996
|In repairs since 2010, back in service by 2014 <ref>http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20130501/180936810/Three-Russian-Nuke-Subs-to-Be-Recommissioned-in-2013.html</ref>
|}

Three more Project 949A Antey submarines were planned.<ref name="Podvodnye Lodki 2002" />
{| class="wikitable" 
|+''Unfinished Oscar class submarines''<ref name="Podvodnye Lodki 2002"/>
!#
!Name
!Project
!Laid down
!Launched
!Commissioned
!Status
|-
|K-139
|[[Russian submarine K-139|''Belgorod'']]
|949A
|July 24, 1992
|
|
|Converted for special missions.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sergey |last=Safronov |url=http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20120209/171227695.html |title=Russia to Convert Belgorod Submarine for Special Missions |agency=[[Ria Novosti]] |date=9 February 2012 |accessdate=2012-01-01}}</ref>
|-
|K-135
|[[Russian submarine K-135|''Volgograd'']]
|949A
|September 2, 1993
|
|
|Construction maybe restarted<ref name="modenize" />
|-
|K-165
|[[Russian submarine K-160|''Barnaul'']]
|949A
|April 1994
|
|
|Construction stopped<br />launched incomplete
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Submarine Oscar class.jpg|Bow view
File:Марка России 2006г №1082-Атомный подводный крейсер проекта 949 А.jpg|A Project 949 submarine
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
*''The Encyclopedia Of Warships, From World War Two To The Present Day'', General Editor Robert Jackson.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Oscar class submarines}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.deepspace4.com/pages/military/kursk/kursk.htm |title=The Kursk Crisis |publisher=deepspace4.com |date=23 August 2000}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.friends-partners.org/pipermail/fpspace/2000-September/000237.html |title=Oscar-class subs and Soviet RORSATs |publisher=Friends and Partners |date=1 September 2000}}
* [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/oscar/images/oscar2.gif Line drawing of Oscar-class submarine]

{{Oscar class submarine}}
{{ColdwarSovietSubmarines}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oscar Class Submarine}}
[[Category:Submarine classes]]
[[Category:Oscar-class submarines|Project 949 submarines]]
[[Category:Russian and Soviet navy submarine classes]]